HC Deb 24 July 2002 vol 389 cc1141-2W
Mr. Hague

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many letters from hon. Members received by her Department before 1 January have not been answered. [72018]

Mr. Morley

As at 23 July there are 113 letters from hon. Members received before 1 January that have not been answered.

Mr. Hague

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to improve the performance of her Department in replying to correspondence. [72016]

Mr. Morley

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and all of her ministerial team have afforded the highest importance to improving performance against correspondence targets and this has been tackled at the highest levels within the Department.

The Department has addressed this by trebling the number of staff in the correspondence unit and strengthening its line management; introducing a more up to date IT system to facilitate faster transmission of letters within the Department, better case recording and improved management data; strengthening contingency arrangements to deal with surges of correspondence on a particular issue and enhancing guidance and training throughout the department (with input from Ministers) to improve the timeliness and quality of draft replies.

Mr. Hague

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the average time taken by her Department has been to answer a letter from an hon. Member since January; and what the longest time for which such a letter has been awaiting a reply is in this period. [72017]

Mr. Morley

The average time taken to answer a letter from an hon. Member since January is 21 working days. The longest time for which such a letter has been awaiting a reply in this period is 139 working days. The latter relates to problems of disruption carried out during the FMD outbreak.

Miss McIntosh

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter of 10 June from the hon. Member for the Vale of York on behalf of constituent L. Peter Davies, concerning the Meat and Livestock Commission. [71301]

Mr. Morley

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 18 July.

Mr. Pickles

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when a reply will be sent to the letter of 4 March from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar, on behalf of Mrs. Griffin, a constituent. [69360]

Mr. Morley

A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 17 July.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Totnes of 19 April about illegal trade in wildlife, which was transferred to her Department from the Home Office on 26 June. [71273]

Mr. Morley

[holding answer 23 July 2002]: A reply was sent to the hon. Member on 19 July.